PHILADELPHIA – Tyson Foerster didn’t surpass his first career hat trick from Wednesday night’s game in New York but he came darn close.
In Saturday afternoon’s game against the New York Islanders, Foerster registered a pair of goals to help the Flyers beat the New York Islanders, 4-3 in a shootout, at the Wells Fargo Center.
Bobby Brink scored the only goal of the shootout in the fifth round to decide the outcome.
The Flyers took a 3-2 lead into the final minutes but New York’s Bo Horvat scored with 1:01 to play to knot the score at 3-3.
The Flyers improved their record to 5-1 under interim head coach Brad Shaw. And they moved their record in shootouts this season to 6-3.
Foerster scored from short range just after a Philadelphia power play expired to break a 2-2 tie.
That’s five goals in two games for the budding star. He now has 24 goals for the season.
“I think like most goal-scorers, when one goes in, they start to feel a little better,” Shaw said after the game. “And then that gets to two and three. They start feeling like the next shot is going in a little bit more than when they weren’t scoring.
“I like how he earns the success, I like how he doesn’t cheat to get his success. It’s not an easy thing to do on a regular basis. It’s a real good sign, he’s a young guy who’s showing he’s going to be a real good player for a long time.”
Foerster comes across as a modest, matter-of-fact sort who doesn’t crave the spotlight. Just get the job done.
“More pucks are going in for me now, it feels good,” he said.
Sam Ersson got the start in goal for the Flyers and picked up the victory.
Jakob Pelletier’s goal at 4:29 of the third period pulled the Flyers into a 2-2 tie. Off the rush, Pelletier took an entry pass from Owen Tippett and backhanded a shot past goalie Marcus Hogberg.
Pelletier has really picked up his game in the past week or so. Any key to that?
“I think I’m good on the forecheck,” he said. He also gave credit to linemates Ryan Poehling and Owen Tippett. That line was recently put together and has had success.
“I think our line takes advantage of our speed,” he said. “And I think that’s how we create goals. Since I got with them, we have a good chemistry going. We have speed and we know where the players are going to be.”
After the Flyers took an early lead, a tip-in goal by New York’s Anders Lee at 10:54 of the second period tied the score at 1-1. Then the Isles took the lead at 17:58 when Horvat sent a pinpoint backhand pass to defenseman Noah Dobson cruising down the slot. His shot eluded Ersson and New York had its first lead of the game.
Foerster’s power-play goal at 3:28 of the second period had given the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
The left wing received a pass in the right corner from Sean Couturier, skated out and beat Hogberg from close range.
Foerster’s game reminds some of former St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals great T.J. Oshie.
“Tyson has the benefit of being a bigger body,” Shaw said. “I was with St. Louis for a number of years when he (Oshie) was young. There are similarities. I think they both take pride in both ends of the rink, can both make a play, can score. They’re tough to play against. I put them in the same category.”
>Help wanted: A proven center
There’s much speculation the Flyers will go after at least one center in the offseason after they traded away Morgan Frost and Scott Laughton.
If they succeed, Shaw believes it will help players such as wings Matvei Michkov and Foerster.
“When you bring high-level players onto a team, it’s not quite the rising of the water lifts all boats but it’s close to that. What you get is the attention of the defenders with that key offensive guy and then the contributing guys have their time and space. Plus you get pucks that are in the right place at the right time so that you can be more dangerous.”
>Short shots
In their final back-to-back situation of the season, the Flyers visit Ottawa on Sunday. The Flyers are 1-10-1 in the second half of these two-game siuations.
